Methods of storing and distributing large keys

ABSTRACT

A method for securely encrypting and decrypting data wherein a function is processed to obtain a raw key that is an irrational or transcendental number. A sending computing device applies a starting point and length to obtain a shortened key used for encryption. A receiving computing device identifies the function from a received identifier and applies the starting point and length to a mirroring raw key to derive the decryption key.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is data and information security.

BACKGROUND

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Encryption relying on prime numbers or quasi-prime numbers, such as public-private key cryptography schemes (e.g., the RSA encryption scheme), have been popular because until now deriving prime numbers has been extremely computationally-intensive and as such essentially impossible for practical purposes.

However, as computational resources evolve and new areas emerge (such as quantum computing), the security of these schemes will become weaker and weaker as prime numbers become easier to solve.

One-time pads for passwords are known to be completely secure. However, the use of one-time pads requires that the keys be shared between the parties ahead of time and only be used once. This means that for many exchanges, the parties must have a priori storage of many keys. The difficulties associated with these requirements has resulted in favoring the public key cryptography schemes over one-time pad schemes.

Others have attempted to solve this problem.

WO 20190110955 to Bryant discusses the use of a one-time pad for password generation. However, the solution in Bryant requires the storage of all of the passwords in a large pad, which is resource-intensive.

WO 00/65768 to Persson discusses determining a maximum key length. However, the generation of the shortened key in Persson is performed in such a way that a function can still only be used once.

Thus, there is still a need for a secure key generation system for encryption and decryption that offers the security of one-time pads while overcoming the traditional limitations of the scheme.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a sending device selects a function that is solved to obtain a raw key. The raw key resulting from the function is one of an irrational number or a transcendental number.

Having derived the raw key, the sending computing device then selects a starting point and a length within the raw key. The starting point designates a start digit within the decimals of the raw key, and the length is the amount of digits that will make up the shortened key. The digits following the start digit up to the length can be the consecutive digits following the start digit in the raw key or can, in embodiments, be obtained according to an out-of-order logic (such as a bouncing logic).

The sending computing device then derives the shortened key based on the starting point and length, and uses it to encrypt the message. The starting point and length are saved, as is an indicator of the selected function.

The encrypted message is transmitted to a receiving computing device, as is the starting point and length and an indicator of the selected function.

The receiving computing device is able to decrypt the encrypted message by retrieving the function based on the received indicator and then mirroring the steps performed by the sending computing device to derive the corresponding shortened key needed for decryption.

For subsequent messages, the parties only need to exchange new starting points and (optionally, in embodiments) new lengths as they already know the shared function they are using. The function to be used can be changed according to a predetermined schedule or rules (e.g., number of uses), in which case a new designator/indicator will have to be sent by the initiating (i.e., sending) party.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one-time pad techniques for encryption/decryption, as known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic overview of the computing devices used according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the process of encrypting a message, according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative example of the application of a starting point and length to a raw key, according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process of receiving an decrypting a message by the receiving computing device, according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a subsequent message encrypted, sent and decrypted, according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following discussion, numerous references will be made regarding servers, services, interfaces, engines, modules, clients, peers, portals, platforms, or other systems formed from computing devices. It should be appreciated that the use of such terms, is deemed to represent one or more computing devices having at least one processor (e.g., ASIC, FPGA, DSP, ×86, ARM, ColdFire, GPU, multi-core processors, etc.) programmed to execute software instructions stored on a computer readable tangible, non-transitory medium (e.g., hard drive, solid state drive, RAM, flash, ROM, etc.). For example, a server can include one or more computers operating as a web server, database server, or other type of computer server in a manner to fulfill described roles, responsibilities, or functions. One should further appreciate the disclosed computer-based algorithms, processes, methods, or other types of instruction sets can be embodied as a computer program product comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer readable media storing the instructions that cause a processor to execute the disclosed steps. The various servers, systems, databases, or interfaces can exchange data using standardized protocols or algorithms, possibly based on HTTP, HTTPS, AES, public-private key exchanges, web service APIs, known financial transaction protocols, or other electronic information exchanging methods. Data exchanges can be conducted over a packet-switched network, the Internet, LAN, WAN, VPN, or other type of packet switched network.

The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

One-time pad (“OTP”) is an encryption technique that cannot be cracked. As the name implies, in a one-time pad, a generated key is used only once and then discarded. For one-time pad to be effective, the key generated must be truly random. Also, for one-time pads, the key used to encrypt a message must be at least as long as the message.

FIG. 1 provides an example of how the one-time pad works. As seen in FIG. 1, an encrypting computing device applies a one-time pad cypher scheme by taking a message/data and applying an encryption key via an XOR function. This results in an encrypted message that, without the proper decryption key, appears to be a random assortment of letters and numbers.

To decrypt the encrypted message, a decrypting computing device (which may or may not be the same computing device that encrypted the message/data) simply reverses the process, applying the key to the encrypted message via the XOR function.

As will become evident in the following discussion, the systems and methods of the inventive subject matter allow for the use of a particular function more than once, which is not possible in traditional one-time pad encryption schemes. Thus, one of the many advantages of the systems and methods of the inventive subject matter is reducing the storage required to apply secure encryption schemes by eliminating the need to store many one-time use keys.

FIG. 2 provides a diagrammatic overview of the components of the inventive subject matter. The illustrative example of FIG. 2 shows a sending computing device 110 and a receiving computing device 120.

The sending computing device 110 includes a processor 111, a communication interface 112, and a non-transitory computer-readable memory 113 (e.g., RAM, ROM, hard drive, solid state drive, etc.). The communications interface 112 enables data exchange with other computing devices such as computing device 120 via standard data exchange networks and protocols (e.g., cellular, Wi-Fi, wired, etc.) The memory 113 stores the executable instructions that are executed by the processor 111. As seen in FIG. 1, the memory 113 also includes a functions database 114 that stores one or more functions used according to the embodiments of the inventive subject matter discussed here.

As seen in FIG. 2, computing device 120 (which is referred to as “receiving computing device 120” herein for clarity) has mirroring components.

It should be noted that for the ease of illustration of the inventive subject matter, computing device 110 is the sending device and computing device 120 is the receiving device. However, it is contemplated that computing device 120 can also be programmed to execute the processes discussed herein to encrypt and send a message. Likewise, it is contemplated that computing device 110 can also be programmed to carry out the receiving and decryption functions discussed herein.

Suitable computing devices 110, 120 can include, but are not limited to, desktop computers, laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, servers, game consoles, smart watches, or other devices having processing capacity, data exchange capacity and storage capacity to carry out the processes discussed herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates the processes associated with encrypting a message according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Steps 310-360 cover the process of encrypting a message or data.

At step 310, the sending computing device 110 selects a function to be used to obtain a raw key. The function can be a mathematical function or algorithm as discussed further herein. The function can be selected according to a pre-determined order or schedule. Alternatively, it can be randomly selected or user-selected. The sending computing device 110 obtains the selected function from the stored functions in functions database 114.

At step 320, the sending computing device 110 solves the function to obtain a raw key. The raw key is either an irrational number or a transcendental number, having an infinite or near-infinite amount of decimal places. Thus, the function is a function whose output is an irrational number and/or a transcendental number. By using an irrational or transcendental number, the systems and methods of the inventive subject matter have the flexibility to obtain many encryption keys from the same function without repeating some or all of the encryption keys. Because irrational numbers do not have a pattern, the systems and methods of the inventive subject matter can ensure true randomness in the generation of cryptography keys. For example, the function can be to take the square root of a non-perfect square number. This results in an irrational number. In an illustrative example, the function to be solved can be the square root of 20.

At step 330, the sending computing device 110 selects a starting point and a length. The starting point designates a start digit in the decimals of the raw key. The length designates the number of digits following the start digit. The start digit and length are preferably integer values such that they identify a precise digit location and precise length.

At step 340, the sending computing device 110 applies the starting point and length to the decimals of the raw key to result in a shortened key. Thus, the shortened key is a key that starts at the start digit and contains the digits following the start digit according to the length.

FIG. 4 provides a simplified illustrative example of the starting point and length applied to a raw key to generate the shortened key. The example of FIG. 4 includes a raw key 410 (in this simplified example, the square root of 2). The starting point 420 of “4” means the start digit is the fourth digit in the decimals of the raw key. In this, example, the starting point 420 of “4” means that the start digit is “2”. The length 430, in this case of 7 characters, designates the length of the shortened key. Thus, in this case, the shortened key is “2135623”. It should be noted that the starting point and length of FIG. 4 are for illustrative purposes only. The starting point can be any point along the decimals of the raw key and the length of any suitable length. As mentioned herein, the length can correspond to the message length in certain embodiments.

At step 350, the sending computing device 110 encrypts a message with the shortened key.

At step 360, the sending computing device 110 then stores the selected function (or a designator of the selected function), the starting point and length in a memory.

In embodiments, the function is a ratio with a numerator and denominator that are both integer values. In these embodiments, storing the selected function involves storing the corresponding numerator and denominator values.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the reception and decryption of the message, according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

At step 510, the receiving computing device 120 receives the encrypted message from the sending computing device 110.

At step 520, the sending computing device 110 transmits an indicator of the function, the starting point and the length to the receiving computing device 120. The indicator can be an address location, a location on a list of functions, an identifier, a pointer, or other information that directs the receiving computing device to find the corresponding function within its own functions database. Preferably, the encrypted message is sent separately from the indicator, the starting point, and the length. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the indicator, starting point and length can be sent together with the encrypted message.

At step 530, the receiving computing device 120 obtains the function based on the received indicator.

At step 540, the receiving computing device 120 solves the function to get a corresponding second raw key. This step mirrors step 320 executed by the sending computing device 110. As such, the second raw key is considered to be identical to the raw key generated by the sending computing device 110 at step 320.

At step 550, the receiving computing device 120 applies the received starting point and length to the derived second raw key to produce a second shortened key. The second shortened key is identical to the shortened key that the sending computing device 110 generated at step 340.

The receiving computing device 120 then uses the generated shortened key to decrypt the encrypted message at step 560.

For subsequent messages between the computing device 110 and computing device 120 (in either direction), the sending party can simply transmit the starting point and length information along with the encrypted message to the receiving party. Since both parties already know the function to be solved (identified at step 310), subsequent sending of this information is unnecessary until the function to be used as the seed is changed (for example, according to a periodic, predetermined scheduled change of the function, based on the number of uses, etc.). FIG. 6 provides a flowchart of these embodiments where a subsequent second message is to be encrypted and sent.

Prior to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the sending computing device 110 retrieves the raw key. In preferred embodiments, the raw key is not stored. In these embodiments, the sending computing device 110 re-solves the function selected at step 310 to regenerate the raw key.

However, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that the sending computing device 110 stores the raw key. In these embodiments, the sending computing device 110 simply retrieves the stored raw key from memory.

At step 610, the sending computing device 110 selects a new (second) starting point and length and applies the second starting point and length to the raw key at step 620 to derive a third shortened key. In some embodiments, only a new starting point is selected and the length is maintained.

The sending computing device 110 then encrypts the second message using the third shortened key at step 630 and sends it to the receiving computing device 120 along with the second starting point and length.

At step 640, the receiving computing device 120 obtains the second raw key (by regenerating it or, in other embodiments, retrieving it from memory) and applies the second starting point and length to the second raw key to generate a fourth shortened key. As with the first and second shortened keys, the third and fourth shortened keys mirror one another because they were generated using matching starting points and lengths off of mirroring raw keys. At step 650, the receiving computing device 120 can then decrypt the message using the fourth shortened key.

As discussed above, in one-time pad applications, the key must be at least the same length as the message. Thus, in embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the sending computing device 110 does not send a length along with the starting point. Instead, in these embodiments, the shortened key is made to be of the same length as the message being encrypted (and thus the same length of the encrypted message). Therefore, where the receiving computing device 120 receives the encrypted message and the starting position (such as at steps 520 and 630 above), it is programmed to use the length of the encrypted message as the length of the shortened key to be generated.

In embodiments, the start digit comprises a plurality of digits arranged in a sequence. Thus, instead of a specific digit within the decimal of the raw key, the sending computing device 110 instead scans the raw key until it finds a particular pattern of digits. It then applies the length from the last digit in the pattern.

In embodiments, the sending computing device 110 also applies a bouncing logic to the raw key to generate the shortened key. In these embodiments, the length remains the same but the digits making up the shortened key are not the consecutive digits following the start digit. Instead, the bouncing logic is an instruction that dictates how the digits are found by “bouncing” within the decimals of the raw key according to the logic. For example, if the bouncing logic was “forward five, back three”, the sending computing device 110 advances, from the start digit (which would be the first digit of the shortened key), five digits and that digit would be the second digit of the shortened key. Then, the sending computing device 110 counts three digits back, and selects that digit as the third digit of the shortened key. From there, it advances five more digits to obtain the fourth digit of the shortened key, then three digits back for the fifth digit of the shortened key, and so on, until the shortened key meets the length in terms of amount of digits.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of generating and storing encryption keys, comprising: selecting, by a sending computing device, a function; solving, by the sending computing device, the function to obtain a raw key, wherein the raw key is one of an irrational number or a transcendental number; selecting, by the sending computing device, a starting point designating at least one start digit within the raw key and a length indicating an amount of digits after the at least one start digit; applying the starting point and length to the raw key to generate a shortened key; encrypting a message with the shortened key; and storing the selected function, the starting point and length in a memory.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the sending computing device and to a receiving computing device, the encrypted message; transmitting, by the sending computing device and to the receiving computing device, an indicator of the function, the starting point and the length; obtaining, by the receiving computing device, the function based on the indicator of the function; solving, by the receiving computing device, the function to generate a corresponding second raw key, wherein the second raw key is identical to the raw key; applying the received starting point and length to the second raw key to generate a second shortened key; and decrypting the encrypted message with the second shortened key.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: transmitting, by the sending computing device to the receiving device, a second encrypted message, a second starting point and a second length, wherein the second encrypted message was encrypted by using a third shortened key; solving, by the receiving computing device, the function to regenerate the second raw key; applying the second starting point and second length to the second raw key to generate a fourth shortened key; and decrypting the second encrypted message using the fourth shortened key.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function is a ratio, and storing the selected function comprises storing a first numerator value and a first denominator value of the ratio.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the first numerator value and the first denominator value are integers.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the starting point and length are integers.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one start digit comprises a plurality of digits arranged in a sequence.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after applying the starting point to the raw key: applying, by the sending computing device, a bouncing logic to select non-consecutive digits from the raw key until the length is reached; and grouping the non-consecutive digits to form the shortened key.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein solving the function comprises solving for the square root of a non-perfect square number.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the function comprises solving for the square root of twenty. 